Saturday, 5 January 2013

Book ~ "The Big Exit" (2012) David Carnoy

From Goodreads ~ Carnoy follows his 2010 debut, Knife Music, with a thriller set in California’s Silicon Valley that has it all: a convoluted but convincing plot, a likable protagonist facing terrible odds, and a meaty supporting cast working for and against him.While Richie Foreman served seven years in prison for vehicular manslaughter, the friend he claims was actually behind the wheel, Mark McGregor, not only achieved success as “a hotshot Internet entrepreneur” but also married Richie’s former fiancée, Beth Hill.When Beth finds Mark’s bloody body on the floor of the garage of their pricey Menlo Park home, she and Richie become natural suspects in Mark’s murder. Evidence suggests that Richie was at least involved in the killing. While troubled lawyer Carolyn Dupuy represents Beth, and charismatic Marty Lowenstein (aka “the DNA Dude”) defends Richie, local legend Det. Sgt. Hank Madden seeks definitive proof of Richie’s guilt

This book opens with Richie applying for a job with the DNA Dude and his group ... they help people who are in prison long term prove that they are innocent. Since he was recently in prison, Richie feels he can add a lot of value. In addition, he is a Frank Sinatra impersonator at night in bars. Then we discover that his ex-best friend, Mark, has been murdered ... this is the same ex-best friend who is the reason Richie went to prison in the first place. And the same ex-best friend who married Richie's ex-fiancee, Beth.

Richie gets arrested on circumstantial evidence for the murder... but did he do it? Or was Beth, who still loves Richie, behind it? Beth's lawyer, Carolyn, was the prosecutor on the case that sent Richie to prison and is doing fertility shots in order to get pregnant. Detective Madden, the cop who had the chance to retire but loves his job too much to quit, is determined to prove that Richie did it. There are lots of twists and turns that I never got to figure it out whodunnit on my own. The ending was a surprise and I was satisfied with it.

I enjoyed the writing style. It was well-paced and kept me interested. The language is mature but I was okay with that. The time period jumps back and forth from the past to the present occasionally but the transition is fairly obvious.